Distractions in the Classroom

Technology is working its way more prominently into the classroom. Both Instructors and Students have technology to use. We have to find ways to integrate them.
Teachers can use classroom computers and projectors to help students understand concepts and fuel discussions about theory or real world situations.
For example, I used the construction site of Disneyland's new Star Wars Land as an example of weldors on a work site. People shot videos from the parking structure across the street and posted them on YouTube. As the weeks went by students can see how the progress of construction is going.
However, smart phones used in class are a distraction for students if it takes their minds away from the class topics. They will spend time shopping, communicating and browsing all at the same time as class discussions or lectures. Multi media tasking.
I support the use of technology outside of the class to have students spend more time with the concepts. I want to have this blog filled up with resources that are easy to find.
Students can then us this as a resource to review topics that are discussed in class.
The use of smart phones is restricted in the classroom and shop at my welding school. Students constantly checking for updates and communications takes there attention away from the tasks at hand. In the classroom it is disruptive to others. Even just because of the unfairness of one student using and others feeling left out.